Why Phil Mickelson Will Win the Masters

For the rest of the day I will be randomly presenting different top-notch golfers and explaining why these guys have a chance to win the Masters over anyone else in the field. Mostly, this will just be stupid "stats" that really don't matter once the golfers tee it up Thursday morning. To recap, skip everything I'm about to write. This afternoon we're looking at two-time winner Phil Mickelson.

For all the hype coming with Masters week, Phil Mickelson has done a pretty decent job of flying under the radar. All this "Tiger Will Win Screw Everyone Else" talk that is coming from Magnolia Lane, we need to remember - since 2003 Lefty has won twice to El Tigre's uno. I wonder why Phil Mickelson will win this year (Fades into "Saved by the Bell" type dream scene)....

He's Obviously a Fan of the Course - You know, Phil has played Augusta pretty damn well over the years. Ok, maybe better than well - the guy had as stretch from 1999-2006 where he never finished out of the top ten at the Masters. During that stretch he went third-third-third-win-10th-win. Yeah, I think he knows the greens.

I've heard Putting is Key - He might not be the best putter on tour (honestly, not close - 72nd this season), but it seems when these major things come around, his putting clicks a touch better. If there is ever an advantage Phil has over everyone, it's his chutzpah around the greens.

Even Years? - For sure the dumbest thing I've typed in a while (and that's saying a lot), but he won in '04 and '06, so who knows? The only problem with this theory would be that in '02, '00 or any other year in the history of this earth that the Masters were played on an even year and he didn't win. Yeah, maybe the percentages are actually against us.

I like Schmickelson this week actually, like you care.